Should I go back 3 days a week or every day mornings only?

[SkaterGrrrrl]

I work locally so no commute to speak of. Any advice gladly received :)

Do you have DCs who would be in nursery? If so, go for just mornings - a full day at nursery is very tiring. IMO.

I worked 2.5 days over 3 days, so slightly reduced hours of 8.30-3.30 - worked brilliantly - meaning I got home at 4pm with DS1 and could play a little, make his tea etc. I would really recommend this if you could do it. Whole days are really lovely to have so I wouldn't forsake them.

3 days. It's lovely to not have days when you don't have to go to work and have full days where you can do things with DC.

I would go for the 3 days. Having done both, mornings were difficult as after you have picked up DCs from wherever they are and got home and then maybe done a school pick up there is not time for anything else as it is tea time and bed time.

If you work 3 days - you have the other two days to do jobs and fun stuff with the DCs.

Another one recommending whole days - I also work 2.5 days over 3, you can do so much more with a full day off than s half day, and if like me you decide to go back weds, thurs, fri it means you never have Monday morning blues

For future reference - once your DC is old enough to get funded hours at nursery (assuming sh/she isn't already) some will allow you to work funded hours around whatever hours you work (our nursery lets me take 2 sessions a day for 2 days, so we only use 12, but makes a big difference to cost)

hope that makes sense

Really helpful - thanks all.

I just have 1 DD who will be 1 when I go back to work. She will most likely go to nursery (investigating this now).

I did think that it might be a hassle to get her all sorted, packed up and out the house early every morning just for a few hours... it would be nice to have a couple of slow starting mornings a week to potter round the house in our pyjamas listening to radio 4 and doing puppet shows starring Sophie the giraffe.

I would recommend whole days.

Thanks for the input.

Hi there,

Ive been pondering a similar question. My DD is 14 months and Ive recently started back at work, 4 hours a week (Im v lucky). I need to increase these hours to either one full day or two halves. I think two halves would be better for me, but this doesnt work for my DH who will be staying at home to look after DD...

the thought of leaving DD for a full day is awful. I know she'd be happier and more secure if I was at home, so I will feel incredibly guilty...

not sure what I'll do??

In July I have to go 0.5 of FT. I like the idea of working 2.5days over 3 and making each day a shorter one, hadnt thought of that. I was thinking 2 full days and a half day.

I work 3 full days and much prefer it. If you work 5 half days you end up feelinga bit fraught as you have togetyou and your dd outof the house 5 days a week.

Plus from a workpoint of view, by the time you have got in, had a cuppa etc its practically time to go home so you feel less effective.

As your dd gets older it is nice to have 2 full days off so you can meet friends, go out for the day etc.

3 days definatley. You will love you 2 full days off. Good luck!

3 days definately.

Whole days at nursery are better value for money £22 for a morning compared to £33 for a whole day in my area.

Less days that need covering when child Sick.

Although you work locally its still 5 x petrol/time verus 3 times same journey.

Dont understimate how lovely you will find not having to get up and out every day.

For those of you with school-age children, does the 3 days advice still stand?

I am wondering about 3 days (as I currently do) or working those hours over a whole week so I can do school pick up at 3ish every day once my eldest is at school.

I went back 3 full days (7.5hrs), changed a year or so later to 1 full & 3 part days (5hrs), changed again to 1 x 6hrs and 3 x 5.5hrs and have now reduced hours slightly and do 4 x 5hrs

My original changes were to do childcare option, and the reduction in hours when I went back after ds2.

Now they are both at school 5hr days are fantastic, especially as I now work 10mins drive away, and school starts at 8.45am, so I can do 9am-2pm and all school drop-offs/pick-ups.

Chasingsquirrels

You sound like you have an ideal set up work wise. Have you always been with same employer? Was it easy to do changes?

Go for the full days. Your dc will soon settle with someone else for one day. you are likely to miss her/him more than they'll miss you. My dc was very happy with her cm for 3 days a week and we could meet friends and small playmates on the other 2 days.

Chasingsquirrels - interesting, that's the way I'm starting to think too.

I'll have an awkward time when I still have youngest at nursery and probably having to do 4 days a week (can't get partial days) but once they're all at school then it's probably the best option. Plus one day a week to myself

yes it is ideal!
Same employment for over 10 years, my boss has always been flexible, when I asked to do the 1 full and 3 shorter days I made the business case that it worked better for them as well as myself as it meant I was in the office another day etc - and it is better.
Moving from there to 4 shorter days was just a matter of shifting 1.5hrs from the Mon to 0.5hrs extra on Tue/Wed/Thu and made no real difference.
Dropping 2.5hrs when I went back after ds2 wasn't totally what I wanted, I wanted to drop down to 18hrs over 3 days - but they said they needed me in the office 4 days, so we compromised.
I moved to an office closer to home about 2 years ago, which makes it even better.
I also flex my time a bit as well - ie was in last fri and am taking this wed off instead, will work some full days in school hols when kids are with their dad, and have the rest of the week off etc.

will you be able to change your hours later? if so, I'd go for mornings only initially cos it's easier for a young baby to fit into that routine, then move to full days later

I would say 3 days a week until the child goes to pre-school and then 5 days a week when the child is in either pre-school or school itself, as it works better with after-school clubs/playdates etc